If you enjoy reading books by Arthur Phillips then you might also like the following authors:
Colson Whitehead is an author known for blending history with unique storytelling. His book “The Underground Railroad” reimagines the historical network of escape routes for enslaved people as an actual underground train system.
The story follows Cora, a young woman fleeing slavery, as she travels across different states, each presenting a surreal and dangerous world. The book creates vivid settings that make you feel the tension and the hope in her journey.
David Mitchell is an author who crafts stories that connect characters and timelines in surprising ways. One of his books, “Cloud Atlas,” weaves together six separate narratives set in different eras.
From a lawyer crossing the Pacific in the 19th century to a futuristic world ruled by corporations, the stories seem unrelated at first. But as you move through the book, you start to see links between them—little echoes of shared themes or repeated symbols.
It’s fascinating how each section feels like a completely different genre, from historical fiction to sci-fi. One memorable part centers on a rebellious clone in a dystopian Korea, where she begins to question the rules of her society.
The way the book ties everything together feels both surprising and satisfying.
Hilary Mantel is an author known for bringing history to life with vivid details and sharp storytelling. Her book, “Wolf Hall,” follows Thomas Cromwell, who rises from a blacksmith’s son to one of the most powerful figures in the court of Henry VIII.
The story explores Cromwell’s cunning and resourcefulness, as he navigates the dangerous and cutthroat politics of Tudor England. The novel immerses you in a world where power is always shifting, and survival depends on outwitting those around you.
Julian Barnes is a writer known for exploring memory, love, and how people grapple with time. His novel “The Sense of an Ending” follows Tony Webster, a man in his later years, who looks back on his life after receiving a mysterious letter.
The story unpacks his relationships with old friends and a woman named Veronica as Tony begins to question if his recollections were ever accurate. The narrative offers twists that challenge what you think you know about its characters.
It’s a reflective and layered story that reveals how memories shape who you are.
Zadie Smith writes with sharp insight and a knack for capturing the intricacies of relationships and identity. Her book “White Teeth” is a story about two families in London, exploring their struggles, friendships, and cultural clashes over generations.
One poignant part of the book involves Archie Jones, a character who almost gives up on life but ends up at the center of pivotal events, changing his path and the lives of those around him.
Smith’s writing is full of vivid, relatable characters, and their messy, interconnected lives feel both personal and universal.
Ian McEwan is an author known for exploring human relationships and the decisions people make under pressure. His book “Atonement” follows a young girl, Briony Tallis, whose misunderstanding of a situation has life-altering consequences for her family and others.
The story spans decades, starting with a single act in 1935 that causes heartbreak and damages lives. McEwan’s writing pulls readers into the characters’ emotions, revealing how guilt and memory shape their futures.
Jess Walter is an author who writes with sharp wit and a knack for storytelling that feels familiar yet unexpected.
His book “Beautiful Ruins” weaves together the lives of unforgettable characters, ranging from an ambitious young actress in 1960s Italy to a struggling film producer in modern-day Hollywood.
The story moves between these timelines, showing how their lives intertwine in surprising ways. It has a mix of humor and heart, making the characters’ journeys both relatable and engaging.
Donna Tartt is known for creating detailed and deeply engaging stories. Her novel, “The Secret History,” starts with a murder at a small liberal arts college in Vermont.
The story unfolds as a group of eccentric students, led by a charismatic professor, falls under the sway of ancient Greek ideals and makes dangerous choices. It’s a story about obsession, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to for their beliefs.
The narrator, Richard Papen, gets drawn into their strange world, and the tension keeps building as their secrets come to light.
Nicole Krauss is an author known for her thoughtful and layered storytelling. One of her books, “The History of Love,” weaves together the lives of a Holocaust survivor and a teenage girl in unexpected ways.
The survivor, Leo Gursky, spends his days reflecting on his lost love and a book he once wrote, while the girl, Alma, sets out to learn the truth behind a mysterious manuscript linked to her mother.
The novel moves between past and present, touching on themes of love and resilience. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind, full of connections that slowly come to light.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for weaving strange and surreal elements into everyday life. His book “Kafka on the Shore” follows a teenager named Kafka, who runs away from home to escape a dark family curse.
At the same time, it tells the story of an elderly man, Mr. Nakata, who has a mysterious ability to talk to cats. Their paths cross in unexpected ways, with a mix of odd events, strange coincidences, and moments that feel both dreamlike and unsettling.
It’s a story where reality bends and secrets slowly come to the surface.
Margaret Atwood writes stories that explore human relationships and societies with sharp insight. One of her most famous novels, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is set in a future where a totalitarian regime has stripped women of their rights.
The story follows Offred, a woman forced into a role as a “handmaid,” whose purpose is to bear children for powerful men. The book unravels her attempts to navigate this harsh world, showing moments of defiance and resilience.
Atwood’s storytelling feels immersive, with a world that’s unnervingly believable. Readers might find similarities between Atwood’s thought-provoking narratives and Arthur Phillips’s meticulous character work.
Kazuo Ishiguro is known for writing stories filled with emotional depth and characters facing unique struggles. One of his most well-loved books, “The Remains of the Day,” tells the story of Stevens, a butler who reflects on his decades of service to a grand English estate.
As he takes a road trip later in life, he begins to question his loyalty to a former employer with questionable values and whether his dedication was worth the sacrifices he made.
The book captures themes of duty, regret, and the way people shape their lives around what they think is right, only to wonder if they’ve been wrong all along.
Jonathan Franzen is known for creating stories about complicated families and the way relationships shift over time. His novel “The Corrections” follows the Lambert family as its members try to come together for one final holiday.
Each character faces struggles—depression, career failures, and strained marriages—while hiding their own secrets. The book looks closely at the imperfections of family life, showing how love and tension can exist side by side.
A.S. Byatt is an author known for weaving deep stories that often intertwine literature, history, and the lives of her characters. Her novel “Possession” is about two modern-day scholars uncovering a secret romance between two Victorian poets.
The book shifts between the past and present, revealing letters, poetry, and the personal struggles of the characters. Readers get a glimpse into the world of literary research while being drawn into the hidden passions of the poets.
It’s a story that combines discovery and emotion, all rooted in the power of words and love.
Jennifer Egan writes with a sharp eye for character and structure. One of her standout books, “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” plays with time and perspectives as it moves through the lives of interconnected characters.
There’s a music producer whose glory days are behind him, a kleptomaniac grappling with her choices, and others whose stories weave together in surprising ways. Egan’s style has a way of showing how small decisions ripple through lives, leaving marks you don’t always expect.